Background: Fagara zanthoxyloides
is a well known medicinal plant in Uganda. It is used extensively in malaria and other infections. However nothing is known about its toxicity.
Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the acute toxicity of the methanolic extract of the root-bark of
F. zanthoxyloides, in mice.
Methods: Methanolic extract of the root-bark of the plant was administered orally to mice at various dose levels to determine the acute toxic effects and the median lethal dose (LD
50) in mice.
Results: The LD
50 of the methanolic extract was found to be 5.0 g/Kg body weight within 95 % confidence limits. The mice showed signs of cerebral irritation before dying. Histopathological examinations of the viscera showed congestion and focal necrosis of the liver and renal tubules.
Conclusion: It was concluded that the extract of
F. zanthoxyloides is safe, however the cerebral mechanism that lead to the death of the mice need to be investigated further.
